NHS is failing patients with neurological conditions, claims report

People with neurological conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease suffer "neglect" by the NHS, claims a report by an alliance of charities representing patients.

Poor care means that too many of the 8 million patients in England with a neurological problem are admitted to hospital as emergencies, experience delays in having their condition diagnosed, and receive too little information about what is wrong with them, according to the Neurological Alliance.

The alliance is a group of more than 70 charities that work with people who have suffered damage to their brain, spinal column or nerves either as a result of illness or injury. Its members also include charities representing those with motor neurone disease and rarer conditions such as dystonia.

An alliance report accuses the NHS of not taking patients with neurological conditions seriously enough, and warns that the coalition's health reforms will do nothing to help them. "Policy levers for improving care in the new NHS landscape are not being mobilised to support improvements to neurological services.